It’s not so much the coat that does the hugging. Really, it’s the prototype belt that looks more like it should be lowering Tom Cruise from a ceiling so he can steal something from a computer. The chunky belt around the trenchcoat packs a pair of winding motors that are attached to nylon straps. On the front, the straps feed through what look like PVC tubing. Yep, those are the diminutive “arms” that provide the surprise squeezing sensation.

There’s also an audio feed to complete the illusion. A pair of headphones plug in to a USB port on the belt and pipe in excited, high-pitched chatter. It’s all been voiced by a very popular anime actress. You’d expect nothing less, right?

As the chaps in the video explain, it’s a good situation when your lady sneakily runs up and hugs you from behind. That’s the real motivation here: to allow everyone to have the feeling of having a girlfriend. You know, without suffering through the 5-hour process of filling out an e-Harmony profile.

If this thing is going to make it to market, it’s going to need a clever logo. I’m thinking maybe something like this: